We've seen many presidential candidates suffer poor debate performances, but Twitter never has an off night.
The Republican presidential debate Thursday moderated by CNN was no exception. From Wolf Blitzer's complete loss of control to Ben Carson's "fruit salad" moment, users had plenty of grist to work with.
Here's a quick roundup of some of Vox's favorite one-liners, put-downs, and zingers on Twitter from throughout the night:
1) When asked about what he'd look for in a Supreme Court justice, Ben Carson said the "fruit salad of their life is what I will look at"
Ben Carson and fruit salad https://t.co/Baogs1gIiB
— POLITICO (@politico) February 26, 2016
How would Ben Carson vet a SCOTUS nominee?
— AJ+ (@ajplus) February 26, 2016
He would look at the "fruit salad of their life," of course. #GOPDebate pic.twitter.com/PCSYzqATXX
Winner of this debate: pic.twitter.com/UNoO1siGnn
— Fruit Salad of Life (@petersuderman) February 26, 2016
It seems clear Ben Carson is only here to create internet memes. #fruitsalad #GOPDebate
— Kay Steiger (@kaysteiger) February 26, 2016
2) The endless fireworks between the leading candidates were also much discussed
¯\_(ツ)_/¯ ¯\_(ツ)_/¯#GOPDebate pic.twitter.com/uBW57NgNl5
— Erin Ruberry (@erinruberry) February 26, 2016
Even the people doing closed captions have given up. #GOPDebate pic.twitter.com/poFAuJSbNn
— Jayson D. Bradley (@jaysondbradley) February 26, 2016
Rubio is unloading his oppo file on Trump. Like the 4th of July fireowrks finale 30 minutes in.
— Jonathan Chait (@jonathanchait) February 26, 2016
That "Welcome to Texas" line would have worked better if Cruz had whipped out his gun immediately afterwards.
— Daniel Drezner (@dandrezner) February 26, 2016
If you aren't interrupting, you're losing.
— Ross Douthat (@DouthatNYT) February 26, 2016
3) Of course, Donald Trump provided plenty of ammunition as well
"Policy is very easy" -- Donald J. Trump.
— Jeet Heer (@HeerJeet) February 26, 2016
Trump: "I don't repeat myself. I don't repeat myself. I don't repeat myself." (direct quote)
— Jo Ling Kent (@jolingkent) February 26, 2016
Amazing moment: Trump says he's not for building a wall on the Canadian border because that's just logistically implausible
— Alex Burns (@alexburnsNYT) February 26, 2016
The best thing about this election IMHO is Trump's ability to defy reality breaking our collective gaffe-meter.
— daveweigel (@daveweigel) February 26, 2016
Trump has Resting Kissy Facehttps://t.co/EOdQNJ5S0n
— Colin Chocola (@ColinChocola) February 26, 2016
4) If there's one thing social media loves, it's hating on cable news
Can’t unsee the hot dog behind them pic.twitter.com/qpm8Ydd0Vl
— Brandon Wall (@Walldo) February 26, 2016
Are you kidding me with this headline pic.twitter.com/Poc5kxNFu6
— Jenna Lifhits (@jlifhits) February 26, 2016
dear wolf blitzer—neutrality is the official united state position on the israel-palestine conflict. the premise of your question is false.
— Max Fisher (@Max_Fisher) February 26, 2016
you guys realize nobody is still watching CNN except people on Twitter watching CNN, right?
— Simon Maloy (@SimonMaloy) February 26, 2016
5) But at the end of the day, the Republican National Committee chair called it a win
Tonight we saw another spirited debate between the most diverse & well-qualified group of presidential candidates in history #GOPDebate
— Reince Priebus (@Reince) February 26, 2016
